Continuous aspect and vocabulary for reviews

FCE Use of English Part Two open cloze and FCE Writing Part Two reviews

For questions 1-20 below, read the sentences and think of the word which best fills each gap. Use one word only in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0).

A

I _______________AM___________________ already looking forward to the sequel.

I only watch this soap opera on the box once or twice ____________________ month, but it is really addictive – a kind of guilty pleasure.

I hardly _______________________________ watch rom-coms nowadays, but I made an exception for this one due to it starring two of my favourite actors.

I’d also recommend the deliciousdessert buffet, which starts __________________ half past three in the afternoon.

I’m trying to look after my health _______________________________________ the moment, so we chose to dine at a well-regarded veganbistro in the town centre.B

I have been going to noodle restaurants _______________________________ years, but I have never eaten anything quite like what the signature dish in Ramen Raymond.

It was by far the most revolting meal I have ____________________________ eaten.

There hasn’t been such a charming and enchanting musical ____________________ Beauty and the Beast was released.C

After seeing the décor we _________ feeling quite pessimistic about the food as we waited to beserved, but from the first mouthful the taste just blew us away.

I really __________________________________________________ into this hilarioussitcom while I was living in the UK, and it has finally come to viewers in Japan.

I first came across this novella ____________________________________________ I was taking a creative writing course in a night school a few years ago.

I first saw this cop show when I ________________________ just randomly channel hopping but I soon decided it was something that I would sit down to watch every week.

I usually avoid horror films, but my husband dragged me along to this one, and I’m glad he ___________________________________________.D

I had _____________________________________________________ looking forward to seeing this “masterpiece” for ages, but I’m afraid I was disappointed.

We ______________________________________ heard that this was one of the best Thai restaurants in town, but we found it to be nothing special.

We were dreadingthe bill, but it wasn’t as much as we _____________ expected.E

I’d highly recommend seeing this original and memorable film, but I don’t think it will still be showing __________________________________________ time next week.

If you like fantasy films, then you _______________________________________ love this prequel to the Lord of the Rings series of movies.

This film won’t disappoint _______________________________ you like other recent Adam Sandler movies, but for the rest of us it is probably best avoided.

This highly original play will close ________________________________________ two weeks, so rush out and buy a ticket to make sure you don’t miss it.

I don’t think I’ll _______________ find another restaurant with such a niceatmosphere.

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Start checking with these mixed up answers. Some go in more than one place above.

A

AT

BEEN

DID

EVER

FOR

GOT

IF

IN

HAD

SINCE

THIS

WAS

WERE

WHEN

WHILE

WILL

What tenses are around or associated the words in the gaps above? Which words are associated with particular tenses above?

Why are the two tenses used in the places that they are? What are the differences between the two tenses in each of the sections above?

What is the general meaning of the Continuous Aspect (= what do continuous tenses have in common)?

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Fill the gaps below with the correct tenses:

A: Present Simple and Present Continuous

It _________________ (presently break) box-office records in cinemas all over Japan.

There are several pubs called “The Green Sheep”, but I ___________________(write) about the one in Ebisu, famous for its unique genuine British pub garden.

We ____________________________________________________________ (already plan) to visit again, this time for the more luxurious dinner menu.

B: Present Perfect (Simple) and Present Perfect Continuous

I _________________________ (never see) a film with so many twists in the plot.

We _________________________________________________ (wait) nearly twenty years for another movie featuring Whoopie Goldberg, and it was worth the wait!

C: Past Simple and Past Continuous

I ___________________________ (look forward to) this sequel due to how much I enjoyed the original film, but unfortunately it didn’t meet my expectations.

I don’t want to give away the plot, but I will say that the ending __________________ (catch) me completely by surprise.

The band ____________________ (already play) when we _________________ (arrive), but we were still instantly bored.

This is a Hollywood remake of the classic French comedy Le Cage Aux Folles, which ____________________________________________ originally filmed in the 1960s.

D: Past Perfect (Simple) and Past Perfect Continuous

I’ve seen most of Roman Polanski’s films, some of them two or three times, but I _______________________________ (never see) Rosemary’s Baby until last year.

E: Future Simple (= future with will) and Future Continuous

Although it’s the poshest restaurant in town, you ____________________________ (not regret) paying a premium.

I confidently predict that we ____________________________________________ (still talk) about this brunch this time next year.Ask about any vocabulary above that you don’t understand, e.g. the words in italics.

Try to remember or think of vocabulary in these categories, e.g. the words in italics above. If something could go in more than one place, you only have to write it once.

Vocabulary connected to movies

Vocabulary related to TV

Vocabulary related to the theatre (Shakespeare etc)

Vocabulary related to literature

Vocabulary related to food and drink (and the places you have them)

Positive words and expressions

Negative words and expressions

Vocabulary which could be positive or negative

Look at the previous worksheets and add vocabulary from there, e.g. the words in italics (without using a dictionary).

Share any extra vocabulary you thought of with the class.

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Suggested answers

Note that there are many other possible answers and some words could go in more than one place.

Vocabulary connected to movies

sequel.

rom-com

starring

released

(horror) film

showing

fantasy

prequel

series of movies.

box-office (records)

cinemas

(twists in the) plot

featuring

sequel

ending

remake

classic

comedy

Vocabulary related to TV

soap opera

the box

sitcom

viewer

cop show

channel hopping

Vocabulary related to the theatre (Shakespeare etc)

play

Vocabulary related to literature

novella

Vocabulary related to food and drink (and the places you have them)

delicious

buffet

to dine

vegan

bistro

(signature) dish

décor

to be served

mouthful

atmosphere

pubs

dinner (menu)

brunch

Positive words and expressions

favourite

I’d (highly) recommend…

delicious

well-regarded

charming

enchanting

blew us away

(really) get into

hilarious

masterpiece

looking forward to

one of the best

original

memorable

If you like… (then) you’ll love…

won’t disappoint

rush out and

make sure you don’t miss it.

nice

famous

unique

genuine British pub garden.

We are already planning to visit again

luxurious

worth the wait

you won’t regret…

Negative words and expressions

revolting

pessimistic

“ “

disappointed

nothing special

dreading

best avoided.

it didn’t meet my expectations.

(instantly) bored

Vocabulary which could be positive or negative

addictive

guilty pleasure.

caught me completely by surprise.

posh

paying a premium

Find a restaurant, café, bar, TV programme, film, book, or play (including musical) that you both know and use vocabulary from above to describe it. Do you have the same opinions?